Battery conditioner

[sidage]

Having just picked up my first TVR(98 Chim)I have a permanent grin, much to colleagues annoyance, I need some advice as to what type of battery charger/conditioner to get?

[day_dreamer]

Welcome to the club.



Lots of recommendations for Accumate are about to appear.

Malc

[mojorider]

Get one mounted in the boot, much better than the cig. lighter type.

[shpub]

Download the Griff/Chimaera sample chapter from my website - all about the battery and conditioners and charging..

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[simpo one]

Airflow. It's in the Demon Tweeks catalogue. Mine's fixed to the garage wall and plugs into the cig socket - couldn't be easier.

[Shuggie]

Steve

Good to see you've chosen the better car of the two for the front cover - blue could have been a bit darker and the headlights different - but hey you can't have everything

Hugh

[simpo one]

Oi, Heath, Nooooooooooooo! How can you possibly have a pumped-up MG on the cover of your shiny new book? I might have to reconsider buying a copy.

[kenny chim 4]

The sleeve looks fantastic IMHO- sleek & eyecatching- well done Mr Heath sir...

BTW, Steve your diagnosis of my recent oil pressure problems was bang on. Whilst the fault was a failed sender after all (now replaced) you may recall my worry about not seeing oil beading up through the open filler neck on idle. The crux was though, you stating that it should do on revving. I can see now that due to the depth of the V8 it can't do it on idle. All is now well thanks.

Now I'm off to watch that computer guy become a racing driver on Faking It. He's being taught by Coulthard at J. Herbert's school apparently..
Kenny

[shpub]

The front cover is from one of the last Chimaera and I thought that it would be appropriate. The Griff in all its glory is on the back cover. I feel therefore that a reasonable balance has been achieved.

Glad you like it, Guys. Well most of you.

[day_dreamer]

simpo one said: Oi, Heath, Nooooooooooooo! How can you possibly have a pumped-up MG on the cover of your shiny new book? I might have to reconsider buying a copy.

Better than the over inflated TR7 on the back cover.



Malc

[RichB]

mojorider said: Get one mounted in the boot, much better than the cig. lighter type.

Interested in why you say that? I have an intelligent charger which I just plug into the cigar lighter whenever I fell I might need it. Works perfectly, cost about £40 Rich...

[mojorider]

I had problems with the cig. lighter type getting a good connection, a bit loose. Result was did not charge when I thought it was.

[RichB]

Oh well, I guess the red/green lights on my charger help indicate that but I see the problem...

[simpo one]

'Better than the over inflated TR7 on the back cover.'

Ah, you've not seen a TR7 then. A Griff looks nothing like a TR7 - much more like a wedge, if you want to be rude about a wedges... Re the classic Griffith, how about 'stumpy E-Type'....

Re the conditioner question, I make sure that the plug is well-pushed in with a bit of a twist. If you've used it for lighting cigs though, this is probably not so good.


>> Edited by simpo one on Thursday 5th December 21:55

[beljames]

I've got an Accumate, and its a star. Should plumb it into the battery properly, but can't be arsed and it fits neatly in the ciggy lighter with no problems. Best £40 I ever spent.

By the way Steve - about the book. What part-exchange deals will you be offering to those who have purchased the old edition recently? Christ - I bought mine as recently as...hmmm... a year ago. My compute came with some sort of 3 year no quibble money back guarantee, or something like that. Probably. And my TVR came with a 28 day guarantee. I'm certain you'll be offering similar deals...

Alright - my wife's pregnant. I need all the help I can get.

[the dodger]

Draper BatteryMate from Halfords. Cost £20. Constant 600mA via croc clips to the alternator (I haven't got a cig lighter plug yet!). Was looking for one called "Optimate" which monitors battery condition and charges/discharges as and when. Motorbike shops usually stock them - about £40 I think and probably similar to the Accumate.

[Leadfoot]

Optimate for me. Got one each for the Griff & bike.

[simpo one]

'Constant 600mA via croc clips to the alternator'

If I understand this subject half-well, it's not good to supply power continually as an an overcharged battery will lose electrolyte and the plates will deteriorate. That's why 'conditioners' as opposed to chargers or trickle chargers are better for this purpose - you don't actually want to charge the battery but simply replace whatever charge leaks away between drives. When the battery is happy, a conditioner switches off until it's needed.

That's my understanding of it, anyway.

[chimburt]

don't bother!

drive the damn thing

[david beer]

I have two V8s(and a 2cyl french thing) one a Rangie and the other a Griff, i can leave either at the airport for three weeks and they start. They "dont all do that sir". But i guess if you can stop a problem by having one of these then its a way to go, might be a little tricky at the airport!